Once we destroy you, things will get much better

That the Trump administration is in the process of slashing the funding of an outstanding NEPA public service icon like WJFF is not only a local tragedy, but remarkably myopic and stupid: yet another in a series of inspired federal governmental chainsaw surgical maneuvers.

Trump’s Federal Emergency Management Agency had approved grants to WJFF for its important role in emergency and disaster broadcasting—except that act would now be a small miracle for the station, should it survive impending federal cuts. Apparently the helping hand (FEMA) has not been coordinated with the boot of the foot (House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Efficiency). 

It goes something like this: We (Feds) give you a bunch of grant money (not enough) to upgrade your equipment. Then you go out on a financial limb and buy that equipment so that you can play your vital role in alerting the public in any emergency. Then we freeze those funds ($135,000). Now you, WJFF, are in a deeper financial hole. In response, we (Trump’s geniuses), cut your federal funding, because we do not like your programming (NPR?), but continue to pretend it is all about efficiency. Our exclusive efficiency model comes from years of carefully following orders and practicing digging countless holes and then carefully filling them. Why, you can hardly tell we ever dug!

Sadly, it is not just WJFF that is imperiled. It may just be the word “public” that gets in Trump’s craw, because the funding of all public radio and television is at risk (Trump plans an order to cut funding for NPR and PBS).

Like Trump’s tariffs and his handling of the economy, defunding “Sesame Street,” “Nature,” “Nova,” “All Things Considered,” etc. would be highly unpopular. Nonetheless, scoring points in the culture war with his MAGA followers might be enough of a sleight of hand to keep their eyes off their wallets and continue enduring the economic “Trump Slump” and the remarkable dysfunctional helter-skelter of Trump2.

John Pace lives in Honesdale, PA. Read more at www.johninthewoods.substack.com.